Paramount and Sega’s billion-dollar franchise is gearing up for its fourth installment, with a March 2027 theatrical release locked in and a roster of Hollywood heavyweights on board.
Director Jeff Fowler officially announced on May 15 that principal photography on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has concluded. Taking to X, Fowler shared a behind-the-scenes photo of himself posing alongside a Metal Sonic puppet, writing — “On behalf of this amazing cast/crew, we have filmed the BEST Sonic Movie yet and can’t wait to share.”
The film is set to hit U.S. theaters on March 19, 2027.
Principal photography kicked off on March 2, 2026, at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire, U.K. — the same world-class production facility behind several major Hollywood tentpoles. The shoot wrapped in just over ten weeks, an impressive turnaround for a franchise of this scale.
Ahead of the production wrap, Paramount released a teaser trailer on March 19, 2026, featuring Jim Carrey reprising his role as the villainous Dr. Ivo Robotnik — a move that generated significant buzz among fans and industry watchers alike.
Ben Schwartz returns as the voice of Sonic, while Kristen Bell joins the franchise as Amy Rose — a fan-favorite character making her live-action debut. Returning stars include Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Idris Elba.
The film also welcomes a wave of new additions: Keanu Reeves, Ben Kingsley, Nick Offerman, Matt Berry, and Richard Ayoade have all been confirmed in undisclosed roles. Producers Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara continue their stewardship of the franchise.
Creatively, the film draws inspiration from the 1993 Sega classic Sonic CD — the very game that first introduced both Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, making their simultaneous arrival on the big screen a deliberate nod to franchise history.
The numbers behind the Sonic franchise speak for themselves. The original 2020 film earned $148 million domestically and $319 million globally, setting a then-record as the highest-grossing video game adaptation in North American history. The 2022 sequel pushed even further, pulling in $190 million domestically and $405 million worldwide.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 raised the bar yet again, surpassing $490 million at the global box office to become the highest-grossing entry in the series. It opened at No. 1 domestically for two consecutive weekends and debuted at the top spot in more than 30 international markets, including the U.K., Mexico, Italy, and Australia. Home entertainment rentals and purchases added over $180 million in additional global consumer spending — bringing the franchise’s cumulative worldwide gross past the $1 billion milestone.
Paramount is already playing the long game. An untitled fifth Sonic film is slated for a late 2028 theatrical release.
